18-year-old Philippoussis Routs Edberg At Seiko Super

BRIEFING - Staff and wire reports

October 12, 1995

TENNIS

Eighteen-year-old Mark Philippoussis dominated former world No. 1 Stefan Edberg, taking only 43 minutes to whip the Swede 6-0, 6-2 in the $1 million Seiko Super tournament in Tokyo Wednesday. Top-seeded Michael Chang easily advanced to the third round, while Todd Martin had a tougher time. Chang beat Dick Norman of Belgium 6-3, 6-4. Martin, the No. 6 seed, was broken twice to drop the first set but fought back to overcome Jeremy Bates 3-6, 6-4. ...

Top-seeded Thomas Muster was upset by unseeded Frederik Fetterlein 6-2, 6-7 (1-7), 6-1 in the third round of the Israel Open Championships in Tel Aviv. ...

The Russian tennis federation was fined $25,000 for the court-watering incident last month in the Davis Cup semifinals against Germany in Moscow. "The specially-laid court in the Olympic stadium, although properly prepared by the Swedish manufacturers, was too damp due to unexplained overnight watering," the International Tennis Federation said. The start of the opening singles match was delayed for one hour after referee Gilbert Ysern ruled the clay court was dangerous. Germany's Boris Becker later compared the playing conditions to "jogging on the beach."There was speculation the Russians had deliberately over-watered the court to make it as slow as possible, benefitting their players and blunting the attacking style of the Germans. Despite the conditions, Germany won the opening singles matches for a 2-0 lead. But the Russians rallied to win 3-2. Russia hosts the United States in the Davis Cup final Dec. 1-3. The ITF warned the All Russia Tennis Association that any further incident could result in the loss of home advantage for one or more ties. ...

The WTA Tour has found a sponsor at last, entering into a three-year deal with Corel Corporation, a Canadian computer graphics and software company.

GOLF

Joe Ozaki shoots 63, on top by one at 90-hole Vegas stop

Joe Ozaki, taking advantage of a pro-am format most pros dislike, shot an 8-under-par 63 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Las Vegas Invitational. Ozaki had a 29 on the back nine at the Las Vegas Hilton Country Club to grab the lead on the first day of a tournament that stretches over five days on three courses. Rick Fehr topped a group of four golfers a shot back at 64. Fehr was also 8 under, but his round was shot at the par-72 Las Vegas Country Club. Ozaki, who teed off early in the morning when winds were calm, used a 30-foot chip-in on the 11th hole to spark a round that included eight birdies and no bogeys. He did it while playing with three amateur partners, and said they helped keep him relaxed and upbeat throughout the round. "It was really fun. I had some great playing partners today and it really helped," said Ozaki, whose best finish this year was sixth in the Northern Telecom Open. "They were encouraging me and I was encouraging them. It was a team effort today."

SOCCER

Players among quartet charged in English match-fix scheme

Former Premier League striker John Fashanu was charged with paying bribes to two goalkeepers as details of England's biggest match-fixing scandal in 30 years were revealed. Fashanu appeared in Southampton Magistrates Court along with Southampton goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, Wimbledon goalkeeper Hans Seger and Malaysian businessman Heng Suan Lim. All four were released on conditional bail until Dec. 1. The four were arrested last March and were charged in July with conspiring to fix matches between Feb. 1, 1991, and March 15, 1995. Fashanu is accused of making cash payoffs to Grobbelaar and Segers to fix the outcome of two Liverpool matches in 1993 and 1994. Grobbelaar, the former Liverpool goalkeeper, allegedly accepted $63,000 from Fashanu in London in 1993 to fix the Newcastle-Liverpool game. Liverpool lost 3-0. Segers, Wimbledon's Dutch goalkeeper, is charged with receiving $30,000 from Fashanu in London in 1994 to fix the Wimbledon-Liverpool match. Liverpool won 3-0. The charges carry a maximum penalty of seven years in jail and/or an unspecified fine. ...

Mia Hamm was selected as U.S. Soccer's Female Athlete of the Year for the second straight year.